Irene Makapugay: Final Argument

(sorry, for some strange reason my title didn't post the first time)

Although Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is considered to be one of my favorite novels, Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte exceeds in both complex writing style and analysis of human nature. Pride and Prejudice is known to be a more delightful novel than the gloomy Wuthering Heights, yet Austen's insights upon society and marriage cannot defeat Bronte's insights upon human nature and love. I am not trying to dissuade readers from reading Austen's novel, for Pride and Prejudice contains many contradicting opinions and truths about society at her time, but Bronte's novel remains a more challenging novel. Bronte’s use of only two different points of view through Mr. Lockwood and Mrs. Dean shows mastery of creating a frame story. The use of a frame story is an excellent opportunity for teaching because the limited point of view proves to be somewhat confusing and leaves much mystery to many character. Also, her excellent usage of imagery completes the Gothic atmosphere that defines the passionate, yet tragic romance of Wuthering Heights. Her descriptions of Wuthering Heights Threshold Grange in order to show contrast in the occupants of each manor, divisions according to class, and the rivalry of two very different lovers of Catherine. Finally, Bronte creates a romance that differs from the fairly plain and giddy love story of Pride and Prejudice. The romance between Catherine and Heathcliff proves to remain both a passionate and tragic romance in which love and loss leads to inevitable madness. Wuthering Heights should be considered the more opportune novel to teach due to its more complex plot and writing style that differs from most novels.



Goldstone, Herbert. "Wuthering Heights Revisited." The English Journal XLVIII (1959): 4.


Word Count: 260

Although Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is considered to be one of my favorite novels, Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte exceeds in both complex writing style and analysis of human nature. Pride and Prejudice is known to be a more delightful novel than the gloomy Wuthering Heights, yet Austen's insights upon society and marriage cannot defeat Bronte's insights upon human nature and love. I am not trying to dissuade readers from reading Austen's novel, for Pride and Prejudice contains many contradicting opinions and truths about society at her time, but Bronte's novel remains a more challenging novel. Bronte’s use of only two different points of view through Mr. Lockwood and Mrs. Dean shows mastery of creating a frame story. The use of a frame story is an excellent opportunity for teaching because the limited point of view proves to be somewhat confusing and leaves much mystery to many character. Also, her excellent usage of imagery completes the Gothic atmosphere that defines the passionate, yet tragic romance of Wuthering Heights. Her descriptions of Wuthering Heights Threshold Grange in order to show contrast in the occupants of each manor, divisions according to class, and the rivalry of two very different lovers of Catherine. Finally, Bronte creates a romance that differs from the fairly plain and giddy love story of Pride and Prejudice. The romance between Catherine and Heathcliff proves to remain both a passionate and tragic romance in which love and loss leads to inevitable madness. Wuthering Heights should be considered the more opportune novel to teach due to its more complex plot and writing style that differs from most novels.



Goldstone, Herbert. "Wuthering Heights Revisited." The English Journal XLVIII (1959): 4.


Word Count: 260

J.Peredo Final Argument

Although one cannot ignore the humor, irony, controversy, and social criticism in Pride and Prejudice, the novel is limited to entertainment; on the other hand, Wuthering Heights has a well-structured plot, a unique hero, and a deep understanding of emotion and love, making it worth studying. The plot structure formed by Emily Bronte in Wuthering Heights contrasts "studies of love relationships," but is still dynamically connected. The two different love stories, or plots of the novel, are connected by one character's actions: Heathcliff. Heathcliff is the "moving force" that connects the story of Catherine, Edgar, and himself with that of Cathy, Linton, and Hareton. However, Pride and Prejudice follows a basic structure without the clever complications that make Wuthering Heights unique. Wuthering Heights also has more classroom value because of the Byronic hero complex. The novel defies traditional standards much like the Byronic hero does, which makes both worth studying. While Pride and Prejudice also has a strong main character who rebels against tradition, Austen does not understand the psychological aspect of people as well as Bronte does. Bronte's "force of insight" into human emotion adds to the educational value of Wuthering Heights. Bronte incorporates a variety of romance in her novel; she does not limit love to following a specific pattern. In the end, Pride and Prejudice is reduced to a simple romance novel while the conflicting characters and romance mirrored in the structure of Wuthering Heights makes it complex and controversial, thus educational.

Word Count: 245

Works Cited:

Goldstone, Herbert. "Wuthering Heights Revisited." The English Journal XLVIII (1959): 4.

E. Heuberger Final Argument

Arguments that Charlotte Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, with its complicated plot and gothic setting, is a more consequential novel than Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice fail to recognize the significance of Austen’s writing style, which intricately weaves a mockery of society’s shortcomings into the plot. Bronte’s novel, which captivates the psyche with it mysterious, supernatural romance, never transcends more than its story; Austen’s novels are, in essence, condemnations of society that only a very talented author can create. While Austen’s novels have been criticized as being “imprisoned in their wretched conventions of English society,” those who employ this criticism are merely looking on the surface of the novel instead of delving into the concept Austen tries to divulge. A number of critics claim that Austen is obsessed with “the marriage plot”; yet marriage in Pride and Prejudice is merely a messenger for her ideas. Examined alone, the plot of Pride and Prejudice is simple; yet, when evaluated in regards to Austen’s style, the novel assumes significance. If Austen’s satire and irony are misunderstood, then her novels and social criticism are misinterpreted. Moreover, Austen’s novel serves as a “pivotal moment in feminist heritage,” showing a man and woman entering a relationship as equals, neither stifled by social expectations. This is something Wuthering Heights, despite its unusual romantic plotline, fails to do. By analyzing Pride and Prejudice, readers can learn to appreciate Austen’s writing style, and can see beyond the print, which, in itself, cannot reveal the statement she attempts to convey.

WORD COUNT: 250

Kneedler, Susan. “The New Romance in Pride and Prejudice.” Novels for Students. Ed. Diane
Telgen. 6 Aug. 2008. PandPCriticalArticle.pdf>.

“Jane Austen’s Critics.”

*The citation wouldn't indent!

H. Loeb Final Argument

Surprisingly this response is something of which I have had much delay and forethought; but without further delay I will make my argument, one which I cannot believe. Oh and I would also like to say way to break the ice Sri by posting the first one!

Although Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is overall a more delightful, absorbing, and beloved romance, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights supplies a deeper involvement in several aspects of literature such as the Byronic hero, gothic romance, and frame story while Pride and Prejudice focuses on social criticism through satire in a basic chronological plot; thus, it would be more beneficial to teach Wuthering Heights. Bronte narrates her novel in a most interesting and difficult technique: frame story. She intricately weaves together two very dependent stories delivered by two completely different narrators to deliver one story. By using this technique, Bronte accomplishes a cliffhanger affect. This is not at all similar to Austen’s approach, which is chronological. Another ingenious thing Bronte utilizes that Austen does not is the Byronic hero implemented by the gothic romance. Bronte “invented a relatively new genre, a kind of northern romance, deeply influenced both by Byron's poetry and by his myth and personality, but going back also . . . to the Gothic novel and to the Elizabethan drama." This “new genre” of gothic romance endorses the Byronic hero’s deep, dark, and devious qualities. While the gothic romance provides the environment for a doomed and daunting romance, the Byronic hero provides the perverse love to fuel it. Unhindered passions overflow from this gothic romance in such a clashing style to those more civil passions in Pride and Prejudice. To study this less popular style of romance undeniably and incredibly linked to the Byronic hero in a frame story style would better satiate a hungry mind for literature.

Word count: 247
Works Cited
“Characteristics of the Byronic Hero.” Charlotte’s Web: A Hypertext on Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre . University of Michigan. 5 Aug. 2008 .

I couldn't get it to stay indented sorry!! and I couldn't get the URL to post either?!

Grayce Gordon- 250 word post

Both Emily Bronte and Jane Austen wrote very thought provoking novels that entrance the minds of the masses to this day. However, I must admit that I prefer Austen's Pride and Prejudice over Bronte's Wuthering Heights. While I find the style of writing in Wuthering Heights unique and interesting, I just do not like the story as much. I think we should study Pride and Prejudice for several reasons. The first of which being that Austen was so unlike any other author of her time. She criticized and satirized her society and people such as Charlotte Bronte and Mark Twain criticized her for her, so the fact that she was brave enough to right a novel that went so against the times is a reason in itself to read the book. For another, in the novel there is a strong heroine, and as women we can all appreciate that, and there is not one in Wuthering Heights. There is also the fact that it is a great love story. Another reason is how Austen reveals the motives and attitudes of the people in her society which gives us an insight to the time period. Wuthering Heights presents the darker aspects of society and seems to focus on them, while Pride and Prejudice focuses on the more uplifting parts of society- including sarcasm, love, and defiance, with only a small amount of angst. Overall, I feel that Pride and Prejudice is the more interesting book and presents a larger opportunity to learn about the past than Wuthering Heights.

Word Count: 257

Sri Pulusani- 250 word post

Both Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights, and Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, created masterpieces in literature. But given the choice, one should choose Wuthering Heights for an exceptional learning experience. Although Pride and Prejudice may be the favorite novel among many people due to its wonderful romance, Wuthering Heights is more thought provoking and meaningful. Charlotte Bronte describes Pride and Prejudice perfectly when she states “[Pride and Prejudice is] an accurate daguerreotyped portrait of a commonplace face.” Contrasting with the predictable image of a love story, Bronte creates vivid settings and relationships between the characters. Also, unlike Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights is a frame story, in which the reader is provided with different views of the same story. Also, Bronte’s powerful words create very striking character relationships with intense emotion. Goldstone, in “Wuthering Heights Revisited” describes the ability of the characters to show their emotions as “[vivid, clear, and unself-conscious.]” Wuthering Heights contains many flashbacks in which the reader can see the past as well as the present. But, Bronte also leaves certain details out, such as Heathcliff’s life before coming to Wuthering Heights, which creates a very mysterious tone. Along with changing the setting from the past and present, Bronte created two very different settings, the Wuthering Heights mansion and Thrushcross Grange. These two settings create a contrasting light and dark image, which also spreads to the characters inside the walls of the houses. Overall, Wuthering Heights contains many different aspects that are very interesting to discuss and debate.

Word Count: 254


Citations:

Goldstone, Herbert. "Wuthering Heights Revisted." The English Journal (1959).

"Jane Austen's Critics."